Starcraft 2 is worth the buy, I said it

[Doom Marine]

Sixty bucks is a lot, but when you see the work gone into this game, it's a keeper.

Playing through the first four missions so far, everything is as I expected and then some. Great gameplay, user interface, visuals, and more.

As far as gameplay go, don't expect anything groundbreaking; Blizzard answered its SC fanbase with the same gameplay mechanics as the original SC ten years ago, but is executed in a very creative and thorough manner, with some elements borrowed from Relic's Dawn of War (like equipment upgrades between missions). From the few missions that I've played, there is a wide variety of scenarios that ranges from the typical base building, to timed survival, to escorting a convoy... looks like the development team learned a thing or two while making Warcraft III. The scenario in the campaign is dynamic enough that I'm entertained from one mission to the next, and executed so well with enough secrets left over that I want to play it again.

The user interface is fantastic, all the typical RTS commands are present, the AI pathfinding is flawless (it's been that way since Warcraft III). I could highlight as many units as I want and group them whatever ways I wish.

The visuals in Starcraft 2 is excellent, but it's not the geometrical complexity nor amount of shaders thrown in that makes this game stand out; it's the art direction. The units are rendered with loving detail, Terrans are thematically consistent and easy on the eyes, the Zerg exhibit fleshy, slimy, tumorous feel. It's what you expect from a Blizzard game, accessible visual fidelity with excellent artwork.

There are tons of little extras that made me chuckle, like the minor RPG-esque dialogues you can have with NPC's aboard the Hyperion, or the firebat info, or the extra dialogues provided to persistent players who likes to click on an NPC repeatedly. Some of the newer characters like Tychus Findlay leave a lasting impression that stuck long after I was finished playing. The production values is A+ here.

From playing the first few mission, SC2 isn't new territory if you've played the recent modern RTS'es like Warcraft 3 or Warhammer 40k, but it does provide the player with a very well-done (read: flawless) experience. This is enough in itself to warrant a buy and I haven't had more fun with an RTS since the first Starcraft.

[wildweasel]

From what I'm hearing, this is pretty much entering "Best Game Ever" territory. And yet when I say I have no intention of buying it, most folks look at me as if I've just turned down an offer of a million bucks from the President. Telling said people that I don't like RTS games does not convince them, for some reason.

[Chopkinsca]

I agree. Even if it was only single player or multiplayer I think it would still be worth the price. Blizzard games are known for the little details. In single player you will spend almost as much time in the intermission areas then in missions themselves, and still have fun.

As the OP, I've only played 4 missions in. There is so much to do. I like the challenge missions that test skills that would be used in online matches. The achievement system adds a lot of depth.

If anyone wants to play me in a match or two, just let me know.

[Technician]

I never got into Star Craft, but I will be buying Diablo 3.

[AveryMaurice]

I played the beta, to be honest I was more in a "meh" attitude. I won't be buying this until it goes down in price, even a digital copy is over 60$ CAD. Not worth it right now for me.

chopkinsca said:
The achievement system adds a lot of depth.

It's hard to find a console/game/platform that doesn't have some form of achievement system built in now.

[Chopkinsca]

AveryMaurice said:

It's hard to find a console/game/platform that doesn't have some form of achievement system built in now.

I'm not really into new games, so besides WoW, the achievement system is new to me.

[Deeforce]

I looked online and all I can find are trolls or people who really like this game. What is true from these points? No one talks about that there is only the human race that you can play in Wings Of Liberty... are there all 3 races now [that you can play directly]? I'm confused. All I can see are 5/5 4/5 star ratings and some trolls only.

[Bank]

I don't know anything about the campaign, is the story as ruined as it looks like from the outside?

[Malinku]

as far as I know you are going to have to buy an "expansion" to get to play the other races (campaign missions) (not fully sure on it though).
I'm not going to be buying SC2 as I never really liked the first SC (even though I normally love RTSs).

I'm just going to stick to playing WC2/3.

[Jodwin]

Deeforce said:

I looked online and all I can find are trolls or people who really like this game.

Or there really are people who prefer strategy over OVER-300-APM!!! micromanagement in their real time strategy games.

Of course, that train of thought is as alien to Blizzard fanboys as anything negative about Macs is alien to Apple fanboys, so whatever.




(For what it's worth, I did enjoy the campaign in the original SC somewhat, but the AI skirmishes (cheating AI + no difficulty levels = WTF!?) and multiplayer were crap)

[Enjay]

I'm in the same position as WildWeasel. I can appreciate that this is looking like it is one of the best games of its type. However, I just don't like that type of game.

[DoomUK]

WildWeasel said:

I don't like RTS games

Enjay said:

I just don't like that type of game.

I used to think I was the only human on Earth that wasn't a fan of RTSs, despite sympathising with their appeal to others and everything.

Nevertheless, I do plan on taking a look at SC2 simply to see what all the fuss is about. But no matter how "good" it is (from a production quality point of view), I don't expect to find it particularly engaging.

[Jimmy]

I'm not a huge fan of RTSes either, but I have to say that I still thoroughly enjoyed the original Starcraft. Hell, I must've made about 100 custom maps for it a few years ago when I was still really into it.

That said, I want to get my hands on the sequel as soon as possible. :P

[Sharessa]

My friend gave me a free trial card for this game. I gave it back.

[Shaikoten]

I don't dislike RTSes on principle, but I do rather dislike the Starcraft clickfest games, where your high level skill is determined simply by how fast you can click combined with established strategies, slightly tweaked. For that reason the original Starcraft did nothing for me, and this game doesn't really have me interested in any way.

[Cutman]

File me under "Waiting for Diablo"

[pavera]

Shaikoten said:

I don't dislike RTSes on principle, but I do rather dislike the Starcraft clickfest games, where your high level skill is determined simply by how fast you can click combined with established strategies, slightly tweaked. For that reason the original Starcraft did nothing for me, and this game doesn't really have me interested in any way.

I've never been very good at RTS games in general, and I've never been very fast when it comes to the "click-fest micro micro APM speed test" matches of Starcraft. With that said, some of the most rewarding RTS matches I've ever played have been with other "less than professional" starcraft players.

[Reisal]

What can you SC2 players say about no LAN support, obnoxious DRM and region locked (UK can't play with US, etc) matches? I heard that the DRM was rootkitty in nature...I'd like to hear feedback on these points.

[zap610]

I don't know much about Starcraft (which is probably my fault) but all I saw from the commercials were cutscenes like some Final Fantasy game which didn't tell me a lot.

[Dragonsbrethren]

I'm interested, but I can't really afford to drop $60 on it right now. I don't think any game can really justify that high of a price tag.

Is the campaign more interesting than the original? I always found it pretty mediocre compared to the first couple C&C games. It told a good story, but it wasn't very involving.

[Xaser]

Heh, I remember seeing what I thought was an ad for some new sci-fi flick yesterday (no audio, though -- it was loud as hell where I was) and briefly thought to myself, "huh, that looks familiar." Then suddenly, *wham*, Wings of Liberty logo. Now with 200% more graphics, it looks like. :P

Anyhow, I'm sure I'll be hearing plenty enough about how great the game is over the next two or three years, so I'm set for now. :P

[Abyssalstudios1]

Until the price comes down, I'm sticking with Sins.

[Phml]

Is the campaign more interesting than the original? I always found it pretty mediocre compared to the first couple C&C games. It told a good story, but it wasn't very involving.

The story isn't good as a story. In a nutshell, you're a bland, rebel space cowboy fighting against The Man (and occasionally aliens), and of course you've got your standard team of nerd lab guy, cute woman in love with you, old convict friend, holier-than-thou ship captain, and so on.

It's just right as a game story, though. It's something we've all seen and all know already, so we can just focus on the gameplay instead, which is quite fun, with good level design, varied missions and non-intrusive RPG elements.

The story is weaker than the original and definitely isn't involving, so if this is what you're looking for SC2 might disappoint. Looking at it as a B movie to give a setting for the game, it holds up just fine but that's about it.

[Graf Zahl]

Forced online registration -> won't bother.

[Vermil]

Phml said:

The story isn't good as a story. In a nutshell, you're a bland, rebel space cowboy fighting against The Man (and occasionally aliens), and of course you've got your standard team of nerd lab guy, cute woman in love with you, old convict friend, holier-than-thou ship captain, and so on.

The Terran campaign in the original game wasn't a huge part of the overall story; it was largely isolated with only hints at the real meat of the story, that would happen in the Zerg, Protoss and Brood War campaigns.

I think Starcraft 2: WOL does the same. If anything, I would say SC2:WOL seems to drop more and larger hint's regarding the rest of the story, than the original game did in its Terran campaign. Hopefully they haven't given away too much, but we shall see...

[Deeforce]

I was in an electric specialty shop and found out that you only can play the human campaign in singleplayer, but in multiplayer you can choose between all 3 races (also Zerg and Protoss). I still wait for the Zerg campaign! Also: Starcraft 2 definitely is region locked, so I need to get the UK version, because there I can see blood [at least I hope so!], that means: there exists european players and american players now (and others that I don't know).

[Maes]

I enjoy RTSs on single player, it's just that the gameplay seems to be entirely perverted during online play, and becomes something entirely different, measured in APM and ms.

Of course that's no issue with RTSs that have a decent single-player campaign (which so far means most of them).

[Chopkinsca]

Dragonsbrethren said:

I'm interested, but I can't really afford to drop $60 on it right now. I don't think any game can really justify that high of a price tag.

I paid over 90$ for Hexen on the N64. The kick in the nuts was 5 years later, the game would sell for 5$ in used game shops.

[Stygian]

My sister bought it and she let me play with it for a while, but I only have about 14 hours of free trial play.

Since I'm saving up all of my money for school and have no job (I'm in college full time), I don't plan to buy it anytime soon.

The graphics slay my computer even with the settings turned all the way down; I'll stick with the old Starcraft for now.

[Sporku]

Almost half of the reviews for the game on Amazon (at the time of writing this post) are 1-star reviews. Most of which complain about the game's lack of a complete campaign and the removal of features which, in just about any other RTS, would be expected. Needless to say, I'm a little skeptical that this game qualifies as one of the "BEST GAMES EVAR".